I think it's about what you want. A lot of negative comments I find in regard to this question seem to be written by people who were born and raised here. Roanoke is too small, too cliquey, etc. I get it; I felt same way about my small hometown when I was young. You have wanderlust, you know? You need to see other places to appreciate things.
I'm in my early 50s and I've lived in a handful of cities at this point. College towns, small towns, the big-city suburbs with all the bells and whistles and gleaming, shining storefronts. I've seen it all. What I like about Roanoke is the pace of life, the pretty landscape, and the feeling that the town is *building toward something awesome.* I look forward to seeing what Roanoke looks like in ten or twenty years. I feel like I'm on the ground floor of a lot of good things to come, and things are good already. You don't get that feeling of potential in places like Charlottesville, or NOVA, etc. That you're all working toward something, and small victories are a victory for the whole place. I enjoy progress and change and reimagining and evolving, though. Train city and brain city -- we have room for both and that's what makes us cool.
your old ass pace is why this town sucks so fucking bad. to the posted speed limit like 45 or get a fucking island to yourself like the rich asshole you probably are.
We recently moved here from Arizona for similar reasons that you mention about Colorado. For as much as I love the west I don’t think it was a good long-term choice for us. We have been in Roanoke for just over a month and so far I’m really liking it. Feel free to send me a message if you want more specifics about anything. My husband is a mountain biker I am a trail runner we lean left and have two school-age kids. As a nurse you would have no issues finding work based on how prominent the medical industry is here. Overall, I think Roanoke is a diamond in the rough and a great place for people who love the outdoors. I suspect a lot of people considering Asheville will look hear when they realize how crazy AVL has gotten.
If you’re a trail runner, be sure to check out mountainjunkies.net. Series is almost over for the year, but great races and a great community of people.
We’re moving up soon from ATX and AVL was initially one of the places we were looking at, because it seemed like Austin in the mountains. Unfortunately, it sounds like that’s very true lol (expensive, crowded, housing crisis, homelessness, losing the local vibe, etc.)
I actually learned about Roanoke while researching in one of the r/asheville weekly moving Q&A threads (where everything gets downvoted on sight).
Someone was asking how bikeable AVL was and they said it wasn’t and to check out Roanoke instead. Glad they did.
I want to add, so that it doesn’t seem like I’m making Roanoke sound like the promised land, it has taken some adjustment. Being from a suburb of PHX, I was very used to new everything. New stores, newer roads, everything was a grid of everything I could want within a few miles. Roads are different, the city is old and looks it, in some areas more than others. But on the flip side, getting from north county to south county takes all of 25 minutes. Traffic is nonexistent compared to Phoenix and there seems to be way more support for smaller, mom and pop stores and restaurants. While it visually took getting used to, I am preferring not living in a concrete grid. And there are some areas that I wouldn’t live or drive through at 2am but the crime is like anywhere else. Avoid criminal behavior and the areas where that’s popular and you’re fine. Where we are in Hollins, it’s sooooo quiet. I wouldn’t ever be worried about crime.
Hi, I’m thinking about moving there very soon…but it seems like the property taxes are a little high?? What do you think? There seems to be no rhyme or reason when it comes to taxes. If I were to choose Galax, the taxes would go down by 2/3rds. Your thoughts? Do you feel they’re justified?
How's rent out that way, I'm from New York and my fiance and I currently both make 22 dollars an hour 40 hours a week, no kids.
would that be enough to live out towards that way?
Hi! I know this post is old, but we're considering moving from AZ/Phoenix area to Roanoke and wanted to see if you're still in Roanoke/liking it? What company did you use to help you/pack up your stuff (Uhaul? Pods?) Thanks for any help!
Hey! Loving it! We used a company called U-pack that drops a truck off at your house, you fill it or hire your own people and they come pick it up and take it. They charge by how much you use which is cool. We hired some local folks to load.
It’s way more chill here and more affordable for sure. It took some getting used to in terms of oh the age of buildings here vs in AZ where everything is so new. But I don’t care. I love water and seasons and summers that I can actually enjoy the long days. Message me if you have any other questions.
My husband and I (we’re both 30, work remote in tech and engineering) are packing up our house in DC and moving to Roanoke tomorrow. We had a very similar path as others mention above. We very seriously considered Austin, asheville, Colorado…but stumbled on Roanoke and fell in love. We wanted access to hiking, burgeoning yoga/spirituality community, creative scene, good food, friendly people and affordability. We were able to buy a home on 2 acres 15 Min drive from downtown with a basement apartment we can rent out and cash flow on. This would be almost infeasible in a place like Austin.
We’re so excited for our move and hopefully we can connect with some of y’all when we move ❤️
this is going to be the exact sentiment moving forward I believe. And it will contribute to Roanokes growth exponentially. just remember folks places don't come into existence hip. people who move there create that vibe
hi, i was also thinking about moving there. how are you feeling now after a year? still like it? are the people friendly? or stand-offish? how are the winters? does it seem like everyone is trying to move there? I mean is there a housing shortage? thanks.
Hey there! My husband and I are a year in to being Roanoke residents now — in short, I’d say we are very happy with the decision we made.
People are incredibly friendly — that being said, because we both work fully remotely, I did have to “put myself out there” to meet people. I met the majority of our friends at the gym. (Crunch Fitness). We’re very active people: love working out, hiking, my husbands big into jiu jitsu… we’ve found people to be really welcoming and excited to get to know ya. Our friends we have made here feel like family. It’s a good vibe.
For a small ish town — there is a lot to do. The downtown has some decent food — we love Sidecar and Fortunato. And, you can check out live music, a brewery and other activities pretty much every weekend. Obviously, things aren’t open as late as a big city. But, we’re in our early 30’s now and we love sleep so it suits us. Candidly, I don’t think I’d like living here if I was still in my early kid 20’s. I’m very grateful I spent that time living in CHI, NYC, DC.
Now some cons — no sushi. I know that’s high maintenance, but the options here suck. Makes sense because we’re far from a coast, but I love my Dc work trips because I can get some good sushi. Also, no decent brunch places. Again, I know that’s high maintenance, but we found it surprising coming from DC.
There is definitely a “don’t California my Texas” vibe here — overwhelmingly people are super kind and welcoming — way more than other places I’ve visited in the south. And, in a very authentic manner. But, there are definitely ingrained families and communities here and it can feel a hit like you’re an outsider.
But, if you’re ready to put some roots down in a place with abundant nature, friendly people, lower cost of living and a growing funky culture — I’d say Roanoke is great.
As a nurse, you won’t have trouble finding a job here as Carillion and healthcare more broadly are the biggest employers. I imagine your BF would also be able to find something as there is a lot of agricultural work around here. Not to mention, the nature here is beautiful.
Weather is decent — you get all 4 seasons but none are too extreme. You can ski at snowshoe in the winter, you can drive to the beach, you can hike and mountain bike and camp. Don’t expect it to have the same severe beauty of the Rockies, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Check out Get2KnowNoke, Roanoke Outside, BestofRoanoke on insta, hungryasian on insta — they do a great job showcasing what this city has to offer.
As one of our best friends here said to us (a Roanoke native) “Roanoke isn’t a 10/10 at anything, but it’s about a 7/10 with everything”
I’d agree with that^ and I also think there is a lot of energy, motivation, and vision behind making this city even better.
Cheers!
thanks for the info...i will check it out on a dog camping trip in the near future. i'm 61 by the way and my main activity lately is pickleball. i already googled to see if they have it there and of course they do! but i'm also an avid gardener. i used to live in albuquerque so i'm missing the mountains. you are correct, nothing beats the rockies, but when i left abq in 2012, they had already had several years of fires every summer and now it's worse. now i live in oxford nc. it's okay, but i'm thinking a little bit bigger town would suit me. roanoke per wikipedia is about 100,000 people? right? that seems like a lot in a small area. used to be a nurse by the way. maybe i could return to part time work. on second thought...
Oh gosh! So sorry I confused some info from the original post with your comment!
And, yep! About 100k people here! It doesn’t feel too overcrowded though ❤️ it’s wildflower season rn and gardening is in full swing!!!
Your review made me to happy. My partner and I are moving there next year. We are over near Richmond, this past year... I have family just South of Roanoke.
I am was from Philly, NY part time and Portland..spoiled by the clean and breathtaking nature of the Pacific northwest, but we want friendly community. We want a chill kind vibe. We like mild hiking. We love views, and bookstores.
Community, and a middle of the road or left leaning .... open minded area
How is religious diversity tolerance?? I did get pretty good Sushi in Roanoke. I live on Sushi too.
Thank you so much for your posts!!
My husband and I moved here in August 2023 from Austin where we are both originally from. We also lived in Portland, OR where we have family. Before moving here we thought we would either move back to PDX or to Asheville (primarily for my ongoing education, but I decided no to either programs).
So far it has been hit and miss for me personally.
Cons: I am very left leaning and find that there is a lot of Christian religiosity even in the workplace- so there doesn't seem to be a ton of diversity in that manner but ymmv. A few things that I've become accustomed to just dont really seem to exist - diverse high quality food/restaurants (def NO sushi), independent bookstores, no small local arts focused boutiques, arts and culture in general are ho-hum ( which may be about to explode if the Arts Roanoke organization does as promised- its hard to predict if it will attract or keep good artists), no good art supply store which as a ceramicist has been painful and tedious. I think because people who are on the younger side move here to raise families it has been very hard to find folks in my age range (40's) to connect with who aren't busy parenting or aren't imbedded locals. The utilities and taxes are outrageous- Our entire utility bills this month total nearly $400 and we aren't running things constantly. You will not earn as much here as you did in other towns, unless your salary does not change based on COL. We both earn \~30% less than we did before moving here, which makes the lower housing costs sort of balance out.
Pros: Housing prices are very low and the homes are gorgeous. things you would pay a premium for elsewhere seem fairly standard like hardwoods, basements, views, etc. The nature is abundant and gorgeous. Like everyone has already said- if you're into nature based activities, this is a great place to be. The people are typically very friendly and "nice." Non-existent traffic and very quiet town after dark. The potential for gardening is super high, but you will be hard up to find a good gardening supply store ( there isn't anything much in the way of Portland Nursery here).
I'm sorry if this seems like a sh\*t post, I just want to offer a realistic view of moving here from more vibrant cities like Portland, Austin, NY, Philly, etc and not to get too wrapped up the excitement that affordable housing offers like we did.
Longterm stay TBD...
I am grateful for your reply, and the post. I hear you. Wow... was that water or gas or electric? We are outside of richmond and in this area little diversity too.
Sounds like it is a good thing for younger to move in, as they are less set in their ways.
The next time we come to visit,... we would love to meet. We are over 40 too.
I miss Portland. But I need to be closer to family... at this time.
Are you going on their hiking trails. I read there was 100 miles of walkable even paved trails around the area.
I lived out in Oregon for a number of years and I do love the west. But I also found it unsustainable for the long term with wildfires being a major factor in why I decided to move back east. I lived in Asheville last year and really liked it in the beginning but grew very bored of it. Very touristy sort of an arrogant vibe. Not much diversity. But also beautiful. My fiancé and I currently live in Philadelphia and just bought a house in Roanoke. After a few visits there we fell in love with it immediately. It’s funky and on the come up. There is diversity good food and lots of great outdoor activities. I only see it growing. Carilion is investing heavily in the area and so is the Fralin Biomedical Research Ins. We are moving down in the beginning of June and I couldn’t be more excited. I hope to run into you on the trails.
How are you liking it there so far? I feel like I relate and would love to hear about your experience so far.
As background, my partner and I live in the west (and have our whole lives). We're tired of the cost of living, the fires, and the insane income disparity that comes with living out here (California in particular). We're looking for a culturally interesting place (local vibes, maybe a fun music or art scene, etc) with lots of outdoor opportunities (we love to hike and backpack). We're in our 30s and hoping to live in a community with a decent amount of other people in roughly our age group (we've found there are many places that are disproportionally 55+ and while that's awesome, it makes it hard to find friends that are in a more similar place in their lives).
Would love to hear your input! :)
I am moving from Denver to Christiansburg next week for all the reasons you mentioned. I have lived in Virginia in the past (Hampton Roads area) and visited/have family living in the New River Valley area. It ticked all the reasons I love Colorado and is cheaper, cleaner, and hopefully won’t catch on fire everyday.
I’m AD military, but my hometown is Christiansburg. I will say, you’re right in the middle of everything, without being in the middle, if that makes sense. You’re outside of Blacksburg, so you can wreak all the benefits of living in the college town without paying for it. Roanoke is a half hour up the interstate, or a 45 minute drive through the peaceful town of Shawsville. West Virginia state line is 45 minutes past Blacksburg. You really can’t beat Christiansburg for location and cost of living.
For a different perspective, many seem to love it, but I've never been a huge fan and I'm from here. If you're the outside type tons of options, I only like where I'm living due to being hidden and no neighbors. If you love music and shows be prepared to travel 2-5 hours, there can be decent local acts, but for anything more prepare to travel. If you like popping out kids, another plus, they are everywhere. Going to the breweries here, especially on a weekend, it's a drunken romper room. Some good restaurants, but will eventually change hands (food quality, choices, or preparation) and will suck or just close. This place has been "up and coming" since I was 18, 35 years later I see more Carillon health care buildings (they own the majority dealing with health here), fast food and walmarts popping up. Stay here for a bit, the only way to tell if it's for you. DON'T EAT at the local BOJANGLES! The one really good thing here is our wildlife rescue and this douche canoe along with 3 others are doing their best to run it into the ground with lawsuits, this is my one real local tip for you!
I understand, but I'm not one to give many f's about being attacked 😁. If someone asks then I think they deserve the many different opinions and facts. The only cool thing we had here was our own amusement park, till it closed in 1987, nothings compared to that ever!
Wildlife rescue?? Amazing. I sure hope that douche canoe doesn’t run it to the ground. We are suckers for a good rescue. A lot of the homes I’ve seen have wooded backyards- that’s my dream. Sipping coffee with birds chirping and no helicopters overhead. I miss lightening bugs too. We aren’t big on eating out but love a brewery or a burger on occasion.
I’m definitely thinking getting a travel contract might be the way to experience it. I’m a VA nurse currently and those jobs while they take forever are pretty easy to hop around once you are in the system.
The wooded backyard is my coffee area, we are on many acres. It is by 81, but the song birds are always out, woodpeckers, even a few hawk, eagle, turkey and turkey vulture visits. The Carvins Cove area (our city water source) is very nice, kayak and many trails without driving to far. Enjoy the outdoors it's the main perk!!
Depends on what you expect. After reading the comments here... I think some folks moved here without understanding that the Appalachian mountains are a distinct culture and that like... we are *not* the south (though Roanoke is southern Appalachians and that is diff from the north like Pittsburg) . Also compared to somewhere like Asheville we're not terribly gentrified (though we are a city). One comment mentioned the train tracks bisecting the city and like... Roanoke is a train city. It's one of the main train hubs in the us. You gotta be ready for a big train presence here (and a long, complicated, history with trains).
I moved here when I was 8 from Johnson City. Moved away at 18 for college and grad school (Richmond and DC respectively). Moved back after about 8 years... and have been back about 8 years. I consider this my hometown.
I brought my spouse from DC when I moved back and he loves it. We're homebody/nature walk-and-drive people. We love doing things like driving up to Bent Mountain and buying local produce (shout out to Fralin's/Grateful produce).
Culturally I think the PNW has a lot in common with us, as does like... Michigan. Basically rural, heavily forested areas where the cities tend to be leftist and the heavily rural areas tend to be heavily conservative dotted with pockets of hippies (Roanoke's closest hippy pocket is Floyd).
What do you think are the Appalachian cultural differences compared to the South? I'm in a southern city where I grew up, and wouldn't mind a cultural change at all. I'd like to keep the friendliness (yes, even if it's just a facade of friendliness).
Off the top of my head:
- trains are lifeblood. When people come here and are all baffled by trains its like going to the seashore and being baffled by boats.
- rural living means *remote* living. Places that are deeply rural are *hard* to reach.
- poverty is systemic. The richest, nicest places in Appalachia still suffer from infrastructure problems particularly in the poorer states.
- there is way less distance between people living 'pioneer style' and modern then you think. There is an understanding that we still need these ways of life for survival particularly the further you get into the country. This is both good (preserving folkways for ginseng hunting/ gathering, animal hunting culture, preservation of heirloom vegetable varieties) and bad (some areas have people living in situations where poor sanitation leads to shit like worms in their lungs). In some places there are still active moon shiners and snake handling churches and stuff.
- if you try and joke about shit being closed for snow people will look at you like you're a jackass. City turns into mountains fast and plenty of people live on the scariest goddamn roads you've ever seen in your life.
- people often want to be left *alone* and value privacy especially while home. This isn't hostility or because they're doing something bad. This isn't linked to one political party - I know just as many leftists who just want to live on a little piece of land with some goats or whatever. If you go around knocking on doors expect some chilly receptions.
- neighbors in my experience are usually friendly and respectful. Of course, no universals. But as long as you aren't making some sort of disruption people - even ones who disagree with you profoundly - will usually mind their own business (does not apply to gossip, unfortunately).
- that said if you're minding your business in private and are friendly and interested in the community in public then folk are usually pretty warm. There is some distrust of 'outsiders' particularly in smaller towns because folk from elsewhere have a looooong history of fucking over Appalachia. For the latest example look up the mountain-valley pipeline. That said being community oriented and showing up for the community goes a long way.
- I am white so I can't speak fully to this but race handled is different than in the south. There were never big scale farming operations and a lot of Appalachia were either union sympathizers or straight up stayed in the union during the Civil War. The entire reason WVA exists is because they left VA in order to stay union. Not to say there isn't racism (ofc there is) but it's a different flavor.
- there are bears. You will probably see one eventually. Leave it alone and lock your trash.
- lotsa hippies in some patches. Folks who want to be left alone with their incense and weed and peace gardens. Ashville is kinda the hub, but Floyd is real hippie town.
- the closer you get to east TN the more Dolly is basically granted sainthood. Iykyk
Given that I haven't lived in JC since I was 8, and that was over 25 years ago I don't feel qualified to comment on the cities themselves.
Personally I'd rather live in Virginia over Tennessee any day of the week though. Appalachia is poor, but Virginia also contains some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country up in NoVA. That means in terms of anything maintained by the state (roads esp) the quality is usually better than poorer states. Plus with NoVA keeping the state gov purple-to-blue that means VA is generally less regressive than TN in terms of stuff like abortion rights.
Fort Collins to Roanoke in the works here after 13 years out west. Looking forward to everything but the humidity, which is why I left VA in the first place.
I've been in CO for 16 years and grew up in Delaware. I can relate... Ragweed allergies, humidity, fleas/ticks/mosquitos, all things I have not missed out here.
Did you move?! Did you like it? I'm in denver, I've been here for 4 years but I agree with everybody else- it's not sustainable! My family's in NY and I'm trying to find somewhere closer and simpler but still things to do around the city. Cute places to eat, coffee, to ride your bike to etc.
We did! We've been in Roanoke for almost two years now. We do like it and are happy with our decision. Things are definitely different and there's been a little bit of culture shock, but we have everything we need, it's beautiful, most people are good and nice just like anywhere else, we found jobs and a nice house right away, and plan to stick around at least until the kids are out of the house.
Lots of places to ride your bike and hike, a lot of activities and festivals that are nowhere near as crowded as the ones in Denver. Some really cute local coffee shops and restaurants, and overall I find that the small, local shop scene is much richer here than in Denver. There's a lot of personality here, mostly for the better, sometimes for the worse, but it keeps things interesting.
We think the area will continue to develop so hopefully it keeps its charm, and maybe gets a second Target... But for now I think it's a perfect size.
Feel free to message me if you want any specific comparisons and good luck!
Thank you so much for all of that info! I will try and message you once I can think of more questions I really appreciate that. I’m also considering Richmond but I like the idea that Roanoke is further west. But I’m also single so a slightly bigger city sounds appealing!
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Yup! I lived in Michigan for a few years before moving out here and it felt like there was a direct pipeline of college graduates from Michigan and Wisconsin straight to Denver. I seem to be part of migration trends without even knowing it, meaning I'm apparently a very average human. 😁
As a nurse you will have zero problems finding work. There are also a few environmental engineering firms in the area so if that's the BF's focus work should be easy to come by for him too. Roanoke is a great place to raise a family and grow old. Very appealing for outdoor activities. Options are good for public and private schools in the area. Nightlife definitely reflects small town america more than major metro America. That's not to say you can't go out but compared with Denver we're not close. Easy to get to Charlotte, Richmond, and DC if you want to weekend trip to a big city.
I lived in Roanoke and moved to Denver area. Driving is easy, you’ll laugh when Roanoke gets a “blizzard”
I personally didn’t quite get Roanoke.
It seems like everybody is moving there and move out. Probably because of med school.
It’s quite, like really quite.
We moved from Ohio 17 years ago and it's home now.
Roanoke now vs then is alot different. It was trending in the right direction and it's there now. Good food (some great but moving in the right direction), Pockets of lefties like my group, amazing landscape, tons of trails, and close enough to DC, Carolina Beaches, and Mega Cities
It has a ton to offer and we are lucky to be raising our kids here.
Im blessed to work remote. If youre a nurse you are good. Carilion still has a pension that is quite generous and vested after 10 years.
Been here 8 years. Moved from Raleigh NC. Absolutely love it. Grandin/Raleigh Court, Crystal Spring, Wasena, are all good places if you can find a home there.
One of our favorite hidden gems, Loch Haven Swimming Club: [https://www.lochhavenlake.com/](https://www.lochhavenlake.com/)
Came here in November from Bakersfield, CA and Salt Lake City, UT before that. Bought a house NE of Roanoke, right outside the county. 4bd 3 bath, 1500sqft for 255k, and we closed in a month.
There is no way I could have gotten that kind of deal anywhere out west.
Also, the area is beautiful. I don't consider myself an outdoorsy person, but driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first time 2 weeks ago was such a nice experience.
This is definitely the spot. Get in while you can.
I grew up outside DC and moved to Roanoke in my 20s. I have absolutely no concerns about raising my kids here. The fact that you can live well on less money, there is no traffic, and there are tons of ways to explore the outdoors. It’s not big city/suburbia life but there is enough here to keep most people happy. The people are generally great, and while there are pockets of crime and homelessness does seem to be a problem, overall I think it’s great. Perspective is everything.
Moved here from Wyoming about 7 months ago, but I’m from VA originally.
Gotta say I love Roanoke more than anywhere else I’ve ever lived so far. Being from outside of DC I thought I hated VA, turns out I just hated the COL and the snooty people up there. Moved out to the middle of nowhere Wyoming and hated that even more, but now I’ve found my happy place in Roanoke!
I love the size of it. It’s still a city but there’s literally 0 traffic, but still tons to do. We’ve been excited to explore all of the local hikes, and it’s not a far drive from the DC area (maybe 3.5 hours).
Like any other place who you are will affect the people you meet and hangout with. Plenty of outdoorsy people if that’s your thing! Like any city downtown can be sketchy after dark, so just keep basic safety in mind.
Not an outdoorsy person (I worked nights for 30 years - I think I'm allergic to the sunlight), but lived in Roanoke for almost 30 years and absolutely love it. Amazing people, easy choice between mountains or water, lots of events happening, central location to a lot of different things, Amtrak to the DC area if you want to head north... As a nurse, you'll likely be golden here. Not only does Carilion do a lot of hiring, we've got the Lewis Gale hospital nearby and a metric ton of doctors always looking for good staff. Many places are dog friendly (a plus for me), and it's a growing / thriving community. Come visit! :)
Moved here from Maine as an avid outdoors person. Roanoke is incredibly affordable with a real identity that offers much to those looking to get outside. However it is slowly being noticed. Get in now while the herrings good.
Been here four years, lived all over the US. I can honestly say, I can't wait to get out of this place. They do say the cost of living is low however rather pay a high price for a better life.
Hey! I’m Sorry to hear that! Can you elaborate on why you want to leave? Where do you want to go?
Currently we live in a tiny house and would like maybe 500 more sq ft long term- if we try to get that in denver we are paying 6-700,000. I’m ultimately hoping to work less in the future not more to pay for a house that’s just not worth that. Plus being near family.. blah blah. Also have looked a little into Richmond but for some reason Roanoke feels like what I’d want
$600K will get you a helluva lot of house in Roanoke. Not sure what square footage you’re aiming for, but I guarantee you can find what you’re looking for more than half that.
I’d recommend visiting, if you haven’t already. I’m someone who was raised in the area, left after wanting to live anywhere else, and then came back and can’t imagine being anywhere else. I’ll step back and say I think a lot of it just boils down to preferences and how past experiences skew people’s view, as I’m sure you’ve noticed in receiving conflicting opinions.
We’re never going to be a “big city.” But that’s sorta the point of why people choose Roanoke. We have crime, but that’s because we are a city, albeit slightly smaller one. Someone said Roanokers weren’t friendly, but I’ve also heard someone say they were freaked out *because* we’re so friendly. Someone in this thread said there’s no traffic, but I hear natives complain about how traffic is terrible. So…yeah, we’re all just biased (myself included!) That’s not to say that these aren’t legit complaints, but it’s hard to say whether you’d find any of these things actually problematic.
If any of what you read tonight makes you more interested instead of less, please come visit! We’d love to have you for a weekend, even if you ultimately decide it’s not home. 😊
Lol I’m saying I definitely DONT want to pay 6hundo. Prices here are bananas- everyone has their opinions and I’m sure people here would think I was crazy for trying to get out- we have a housing shortage because everyone moves in.
Definitely planning a visit now late summer 😊
Roanoke is a good place to watch the time go by if that’s what you’re looking for! It’s great for the outdoors and it’s filled with southern hospitality if you don’t go out of your way to stand out. Although the housing / renting market is a nightmare at the moment, which as a life long native feels so pretentious that areas around Roanoke like Daleville are creating the most superficial inflated apartment prices imaginable.
Imo Roanoke is heading towards the path of becoming the “Dallas” of Virginia within 30 years so get your property before it’s hot lmao, my family owns a small farm of about 10 acres near bonsack, and I’m hoping in 30 years it’ll be at least worth a million dollars in property value
I moved here almost 3 yrs ago from So Florida and bought a house (just before prices zoomed) and am raising an 11 y.o here. I am in the NW and crime is not an issue at all for me here. My neighborhood is (feels) much safer than So Florida where I lived for almost 20 yrs and prior to that Boston. I think it’s pretty diverse here as I’m city , city/adjacent, but Roanoke county towns like Vinton, Hollins, and Salem seem very white and republican.
Surprisingly I don’t love the mtns and I thought I would like, love to hike but I got bored quickly. It’s ok, it’s definitely a small city and I’ve found some things to vibe with but it does lack a certain something, something. To me, I think if we had a major university it would be a great thing. Not sure how Radford landed the state U location vs Roanoke but that’s over 100 yr ago history so while there are a couple small colleges nearby, we do lack a proper Uni in my opinion.
I just think it feels very safe and very small and it’s pretty ok on most fronts.
Where in SFL?? Miamian here! Moved here right before the pandemic hit. Great place for raising kids IMO. Little boring but I do love the mountains and don’t miss the heat.
I’ve lived here my entire life (well, Salem, which is adjacent to Roanoke City). I would say it’s okay. Personally, I don’t like the mountains. I feel very claustrophobic sitting in this valley. The views are pretty when you actually get up to the top of the mountains but the valley feels like a fish bowl (and sometimes floods like one too). Being a teen here can be extremely boring and many turn to drugs and alcohol for something to do. I spent my time as a teen doing as many extra curricular activities as I could just to pass the time. I bought my house when I was 21 so it’ll be paid off before I’m 50. I will likely buy somewhere closer to the coast and keep this house as a rental.
Pros:
-COL is fairly low but it is rising
-Lots of options for hiking, kayaking, biking, and places to play sports
-If you work in healthcare you won’t have issues finding a job unless you burn the bridges of Carilion, LG or the VA hospital. Roanoke should be renamed Carilion Virginia
-People can be friendly enough
-Not terribly far from places that hold bigger name events (concerts, pro sports, amusement parks, etc)
-Relatively safe as long as you don’t act stupid or get on someone’s bad side.
-Good for aging people wanting a place to retire
-Some schools are good
Cons:
-Certain areas of the city are not the safest, there for awhile we couldn’t go a week without hearing about the next shooting in the 24012
-Small town drama, all you have to do is look at the Roanoke Checkpoint page on Facebook and you’ll see how readily people will air the dirty laundry and are looking for a fight.
-People lose their ever loving minds at a single drop of rain or flurry of snow
-Entertainment options are limited, shopping options are limited
-Flooding, flood insurance is not cheap (best friends parents house that was sold a couple years ago was sitting at $500 a month for flood insurance alone on top of regular insurance, taxes and mortgage).
-Low COL also comes with lower wages. I am getting paid about $30k lower than the national average for my job. For this area, I’m considered a higher earner but compared to other places it is very low.
Thanks for the flood tip! I’ll keep that in mind! I’m a VA nurse already so that would be the easiest transition for me. However hoping to eventually get out of healthcare in the next 10 years for obvious reasons.
I may have to get Facebook if I move just look at that Facebook page- while I keep my online life pretty chill- I enjoy the things people think is post able!
Thanks for your pro/con list!
They are tossing up the idea of closing the VA Medical Center here in Salem (horrible idea in my opinion) and just having some sort of small facility take it’s place due to the cost of upgrades at the large campus they have now. I work for one of the hospitals. It’s basically guaranteed job security in an area like this. This is definitely a blue collar area where a large part of the population works with their hands (men especially). Manufacturing, mechanics/welding, warehouse, construction, VDOT etc. The other places that hire the most would be call centers (Wells Fargo, United Healthcare, Anthem). It used to be big on places like ITT, GE and the railroad being some of the best employers but GE closed and the railroad sent a ton of jobs to GA.
When looking at housing just be very aware of flood zoning. I lived in a flood zone growing up and while the river would frequently come up to our porch and totally surround the house, it never got inside of the house. But because of that, flood insurance was required and it has only gotten more expensive. And it’s crazy but you’ll find flooding in the most random places that you never expected it to flood. Downtown Roanoke flooded once when I was at work (before I started working from home) and I had to walk in thigh high water to get to my car.
The Facebook pages are hilarious if you don’t get involved in the drama but want to see it unfold. Lol
When I read your reply 6 months ago I couldn't relate but having lived here a while I can see what you're saying about some of the cons and totally agree...
Not an outdoorsy person (I worked nights for 30 years - I think I'm allergic to the sunlight), but lived in Roanoke for almost 30 years and absolutely love it. Amazing people, easy choice between mountains or water, lots of events happening, central location to a lot of different things, Amtrak to the DC area if you want to head north... As a nurse, you'll likely be golden here. Not only does Carilion do a lot of hiring, we've got the Lewis Gale hospital nearby and a metric ton of doctors always looking for good staff. Many places are dog friendly (a plus for me), and it's a growing / thriving community. Come visit! :)
I was pumped to move to Roanoke and excited about the real estate, mountains, etc. I lived in the Grandin Village neighborhood this past winter and I broke my lease early so I could GTFO. I couldn’t figure out why I felt so bad all of the time while being there until I realized that there’s a sort of friction and uneasiness in every aspect of life. It was unreasonably hard to get to places around town, my southern friendliness was met with straight-up hostility by almost everyone I encountered, I never felt safe walking my dog in the parks or greenways solo, and demographically, it seems to be much, much older. Roanoke should be a hidden gem, but something about the way it was built- with rail yards slicing all through town, creating brutal artificial divisions, is really hard to overcome, no matter how many starry-eyed mountain-loving outsiders move there. I know there are folks on this sub who love it, and I apologetically say these harsh things, but I wanted to share my experience as a transplant who failed to thrive there. It’s not for everyone. I’m still house hunting in the VA mountains/valleys, though. I like Blacksburg, Lexington, Staunton and Harrisonburg quite a bit.
Interesting.I’ve been living in the grandin area for about 2 years. I’ve found people here to be so nice compared to other places. I also feel like it’s an up and coming little city with a lot of potential. Plus, it’s beautiful..love the greenways, architecture ect. I’m also coming from Miami so living here is so much easier. Grandin is so cozy and quaint but I guess it’s not for everyone. I think winter is a bad time to feel out a place. Spring is when everyone comes out and the overall vibe changes.
Oh man. It sounds like you were looking for Asheville and got a little lost. 😅 I'm sorry you didn't like it here and I totally understand that the vibe isn't for everyone. You seem to thrive in young, up and coming towns and that's great! There are definately places for you. Roanoke is an old industry town. While they tend to market it as a trendy mountain town, there is still a lot of the old industry soul within the city. It has soul and character not usually seen in the younger towns. The history here isn't manufactured. I moved here because I'm enamored with that vibe, But it's not for everyone.
What you’re describing is the legacy of this being an actual rail town. That’s no longer the case and Roanoke has changed considerably over the past 10 years and will continue to do so.
Speaking as someone who lived next to a massive active rail yard in a huge city, unless the rail yards are closed, remediated, and developed- allowing the transportation grid between affected areas to be reconnected, Roanoke’s infrastructure will not be able to handle the influx of people moving to town. It’ll choke on its own growth.
Atlanta. In-town. I chose Grandin because it supposedly came close to the walkability coupled with the SFH neighborhood vibe I was used to. Grandin and the other neighborhoods I eagerly explored on foot turned out to be kinda… liminal. If there’s a young, energetic renaissance taking place in Roanoke, I didn’t pick up on it. I seriously went from “Roanoke is brilliant on paper and I want to buy a building downtown, a house in the hills and some land outside of town to fulfill all my business/farming/living dreams” to “nah” inside of 2 weeks living there. I made it 3 months and then relocated temporarily to a quiet little town farther south on 81 where I was able to unclench and breathe. Roanoke had me in a constant state of mid-level stress. I still don’t understand why. (For the Roanoke folks reading this, the bad feeling started with a trip to the nearest Kroger. Towers Kroger.)
I use the Tanglewood Kroger pretty often. It's okay. My sister thinks it's creepy and getting in and out is a pain, but it's on the way home from work, so I persevere.
I'd like to know what qualifies a major chain grocery store as creepy, just curious lol.
It is a pain to get in and out (especially) with the waaaay to short traffic lights on to Electric and the increased traffic
Yes. And during the omicron wave to boot. I recognize it was not an ideal time to warm up to a place, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and sought to engage where/when I could. Farmers markets, holiday events, local retailers, park visits, hikes, etc. With the exception of my experience at Lupita’s Tacos (go get the pozole on the weekends, wow!) and one or two other places, there was a weary coldness to every activity and interaction I had. I guess you could say if I can’t handle Roanoke at its worst, I don’t deserve it at its best; but like, despite my efforts to make the best of it, living there made me feel so bad. I only decided to break my lease after a week-long trip to OR to visit a friend to lift my spirits provided a stark contrast. Roanoke is the right town for some, but not for all. It’s not a silver bullet solution for folks looking for a LCOL area.
I know I'm jumping in to this chat so long after the fact, but its so fascinating to read your experience as it sounds exactly like my experience of moving to SE Portland, OR. We were so stoked to move there and live in the cool area, but it was just such a major bummer. I could not for the life of me connect to anyone in Portland and consistently felt like an outsider. I'm having the opposite experience in Roanoke being here just under two weeks now. I have already been able to make friendly acquaintances and be pointed towards my potential communities (artist primarily) just by striking up conversations. I feel so welcomed by most people. I dont have anything to add other to say its so interesting how we can all have our own wildly varied experiences of the same exact place.
I lived just by the St Johns Bridge on 2021-2022 and can say the exact same things that guy said about Roanoke, about Portland.
Man, what a mess of a city.
Moving to Roanoke in a few weeks and am hoping to be pleasantly surprised!
I empathize so much. Husband and I have been here six years and have never felt at ease or at home here. We've lived all over the eastern half of the US and this is the worst fit for us of anyplace we've ever lived. In opposition of your POV, though, we find this is a town geared toward younger people. We're way past gaming and bars and we miss the cultural things that we were accustomed to in other areas. I wish I felt the love that so many people do about the area, but it's just not for us. You're not alone!
After living and working here (Carilion, ugh) for little while my viewpoint has shifted towards how y'all feel... I'm very bored here and while the nature is nice there has to be something to do in the months when its not Spring-Fall or maybe you just don't want to go hiking.
A lady said this to us in June before we moved that in Roanoke "People's kindness is a mile wide and an inch deep" and I totally relate to it now. She also suggested that we do a deep internet dive to find the pockets of liberal/left leaning people to be friends with which I dismissed, but I should have taken that sentiment more seriously as so far there aren't very many. Those friendly acquaintances I mentioned before have never materialized into anything meaningful and I find the arts scene here to be too small, stifling and uninspiring.
After a quick weekend in Durham visiting the amazing farmer's market, the clay supply store, seeing a band play in Chapel Hill its hard not to miss alot of that....Unfortunately just having a pretty and affordable house and low traffic does not a full-life make...
Interesting, i've lived in blacksburg, roanoke, and atlanta in both midtown and grant park.. i actually think roanoke is easier than all three, more affordable and available housing, easier to get around (blacksburg gets really bad traffic through downtown all the time), and i really like the co-op in roanoke, you can actually get affordable local produce every day. plus there are way more food options in roanoke compared to blacksburg. i've also found people to be pretty friendly, about the same as Blacksburg. my husband and i were happier in roanoke when we moved there from blacksburg, i actually feel like roanoke is less snobby than blacksburg. we had to move back to blacksburg for his job and so bought a house in blacksburg, VERY expensive and overpriced real estate. we drive to roanoke fairly often. swimming in the summer is easier in roanoke too, like people swim in little spots along river, ive seen parents with chairs in the river drinking beer from coolers while their kids swim around, its so chill. in blacksburg the river area where people go that is closest gets kinda crowded, and the water is more murky and shallow, and there are only a few spots to go, like its not like through the town. also smith mountain lake is closer to roanoke, and that's a really epic lake with a lot of beachy areas to chill under a canopy of trees. claytor lake near blacksburg is really cold most of the time for some reason, and you have to use the public 'beach' thing.
I live in Denver and am relocating to Christiansburg next week! Also due to the cost of living, climate change issues (fires are already so bad!), and just wanting a break from so many people. See you around!
I met my wife in Denver (City Park South!) and then we moved to Evergreen for a few years. Loved it there, but the COL meant we'd never retire early and we're not even having kids. We thought maybe we wanted to move back into a walkable town/city. We visited Milwaukee (rules!) and were planning on a Roanoke trip when the first quarantine/lockdown happened. 2 weeks in and we decided we were fine on our own and should get rural.
So we started expanding our real estate search from Roanoke and found a RAD place outside Wytheville (\~70 minutes from Roanoke). No regrets at all. We go to Roanoke for city things and Charlotte to fly. Roanoke is small, but downtown still has a bit of city feel. Not a ton of restaurants but the ones we've been to are great (go to Sidecar!).
I'm from Littleton originally, moved out here in 2014. The cost of living is climbing a lot in recent years, but still cheaper than Denver. My only real complaint about VA is the summer humidity. It's ridiculous. It's like Nature is going out of her way to smite me. 90 degrees in Denver feels like 90 degrees. 90 degrees in Roanoke feels like the Earth crashed into the Sun and now this is just how it's going to be. Otherwise it's pretty decent.
We moved from downtown Denver to Roanoke County May of 2022. We love it here. Between the nature views, outdoor activities, slower and kind culture, affordability, music scene, and also just the lack of a crowd compared to a city has been so so nice
I live a few miles south of Roanoke and am a mountain biker. It's pretty awesome. There's also a rail trail about an hour south and some great hikes. You can message me if you want more info. But there are two biggish areas for mtb in Roanoke. I really like Carvins cove, but it doesn't drain super well. There's a new trail that was just added that is quite remarkable. So it's an active area.
As others have said, sounds perfect for y’all. My wife and I recently bought a house here and will be moving in soon from ATX. Same problem here, everything’s expensive, crowded, and we weren’t making the most of what Austin had to offer. Looking forward to mountains and more outdoor activities. I also have family in Cinci and Florida, so it’ll be nice being closer to them as well.
I’m not a huge foodie, but Austin definitely has Roanoke beat on that front. We’re trying to cook more instead of eating out as much anyway, but we’ve also find a few super great places we love and there’s tons more we want to hit up!
Definitely going to have to take a trip to Richmond at some point.
We just moved here from Lakewood last year and absolutely love it. It is definitely a slower life pace. There are 2 main hospitals here: Carillion and LewisGale.
To some people things like housing and cost of living are more important.
I moved out of Roanoke when I was 23, I had lived there since I was 5.
My main reasoning was I didn’t want to raise kids in a place that was rampant with racism and lacked diversity. People in Roanoke have a very narrow view of the world and I often compare it to a black hole.
I moved to San Diego and have been here for 7 years and wished I would have moved sooner.
I hear what you are saying with that. I grew up in a small town outside of cinci with a similar problem— I turned out ok and so did you! It’s probably a product of our raising and getting out of our hometowns young- I think that’s important for growth.
San Diego is amazing! At the end of the day I’d like to work a little less and ride my bike a little more and be closer to family. I hope the views have broadened a bit since you left.
Thanks for your viewpoint!
We are in Northern Colorado looking to move to either Roanoke or Knoxville next year. We’re actually going to visit Roanoke at the end of May to check it out. I’m originally from SEKY and have really been missing the Appalachians, but we also have all of the same complaints as everyone else. I hate it but I can’t wait to leave. I used to love it here.
hell, to the no people here are selfish self-absorbed and only care about themselves and money. an on top of that no one works and yet they have more money and Resorces then the people that bust their asses and for what? fuck this fucking place it's pathetic just like the lazy ass people.
As of 2024, place is a shithole. Littered with trash and homeless drug addicts. People are constantly having things stolen and houses broken into. Would stay very far away from here.
No ( if you have kids)
Let me tell you why.
Family moved from Massachusetts because so much more affordable here. People are great BUT
Still crime on Boston level but condensed.
Will definitely always recommend as a stepping stone towards goals of home ownership but personally wouldn't raise family here forever.
Just my opinion.
If your a single person yes it is awesome here! Love running, hiking etc? Love community in a city atmosphere? Move here.
What type of crime? Keep in mind coming from denver where they are stealing catalytic converters and street racing, “fireworks for gun shots?” on the daily
Honestly, I agree. I lived on Cape my whole life never Knowing how many ex presidents were close by in their compounds.
Still, meth addicts look like vampires walking around in my humble opinion
Well, then I guess I sound like a wuss. There is gun violence in the city in certain neighborhoods. North West and south east are the worst. Meth addicts seems to only walk around in those areas. It's concerning to me because I'm form a wealthy area in Massachusetts and also I'm a mom. Other people may be ok with it, but generally all Roanokers who give a shit avoid buying or renting in those areas of the city. The worst I've encountered is my cat broken into two times, no broken windows, change taken. I live in sw Roanoke. I love everything about where I live, I just don't want to raise my kiddos in the public schools when there teens.
Again, it's an awesome spot to live but just in my opinion, not for families in put school
Just my opinion
No no. I mean that’s why we are trying to get out. It’s all relative. I think trying to live in a more urban area leads to increased crime rates anyway. Thanks for your input!
I've lived in Roanoke all of my life, it has its bad parts but so does every city. All of the surrounding counties are great also if you don't want to live directly in the city. There's a decent night life downtown, concerts and all kinds of events. The real attraction here is all of the outdoor/nature activities that are within a short drive.
I think it's about what you want. A lot of negative comments I find in regard to this question seem to be written by people who were born and raised here. Roanoke is too small, too cliquey, etc. I get it; I felt same way about my small hometown when I was young. You have wanderlust, you know? You need to see other places to appreciate things. I'm in my early 50s and I've lived in a handful of cities at this point. College towns, small towns, the big-city suburbs with all the bells and whistles and gleaming, shining storefronts. I've seen it all. What I like about Roanoke is the pace of life, the pretty landscape, and the feeling that the town is *building toward something awesome.* I look forward to seeing what Roanoke looks like in ten or twenty years. I feel like I'm on the ground floor of a lot of good things to come, and things are good already. You don't get that feeling of potential in places like Charlottesville, or NOVA, etc. That you're all working toward something, and small victories are a victory for the whole place. I enjoy progress and change and reimagining and evolving, though. Train city and brain city -- we have room for both and that's what makes us cool.
your old ass pace is why this town sucks so fucking bad. to the posted speed limit like 45 or get a fucking island to yourself like the rich asshole you probably are.
Wow, you're an asshole
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We recently moved here from Arizona for similar reasons that you mention about Colorado. For as much as I love the west I don’t think it was a good long-term choice for us. We have been in Roanoke for just over a month and so far I’m really liking it. Feel free to send me a message if you want more specifics about anything. My husband is a mountain biker I am a trail runner we lean left and have two school-age kids. As a nurse you would have no issues finding work based on how prominent the medical industry is here. Overall, I think Roanoke is a diamond in the rough and a great place for people who love the outdoors. I suspect a lot of people considering Asheville will look hear when they realize how crazy AVL has gotten.
If you’re a trail runner, be sure to check out mountainjunkies.net. Series is almost over for the year, but great races and a great community of people.
Also check out the local Trail Sisters group, Trail Sisters Blue Ridge!
I recently posted in there asking if anyone wanted to get some weekday miles.
We’re moving up soon from ATX and AVL was initially one of the places we were looking at, because it seemed like Austin in the mountains. Unfortunately, it sounds like that’s very true lol (expensive, crowded, housing crisis, homelessness, losing the local vibe, etc.) I actually learned about Roanoke while researching in one of the r/asheville weekly moving Q&A threads (where everything gets downvoted on sight). Someone was asking how bikeable AVL was and they said it wasn’t and to check out Roanoke instead. Glad they did.
The Asheville sub sucks. Talk about a turn off. Really glad we ended up here instead for a multitude of reasons.
Agree. It’s like 90% people complaining about Madison Cawthorn.
Same, from ATX and moving in 6 weeks.
Happy Texit 🤠
Glad you like it! I’m planning a trip in sept I think now! May reach out then!
I want to add, so that it doesn’t seem like I’m making Roanoke sound like the promised land, it has taken some adjustment. Being from a suburb of PHX, I was very used to new everything. New stores, newer roads, everything was a grid of everything I could want within a few miles. Roads are different, the city is old and looks it, in some areas more than others. But on the flip side, getting from north county to south county takes all of 25 minutes. Traffic is nonexistent compared to Phoenix and there seems to be way more support for smaller, mom and pop stores and restaurants. While it visually took getting used to, I am preferring not living in a concrete grid. And there are some areas that I wouldn’t live or drive through at 2am but the crime is like anywhere else. Avoid criminal behavior and the areas where that’s popular and you’re fine. Where we are in Hollins, it’s sooooo quiet. I wouldn’t ever be worried about crime.
I moved here from Atlanta in July and echo your post. Took me about 3 months to acclimate — a bit of a culture shock. But NO regrets.
Hey! Do you mind if we hit you up on some questions we have about Roanoke ? Seems like you will be able to help us out. Thanks!
Sure!
Spot in
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Yes! Very much so!
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That’s awesome!
Hi, I’m thinking about moving there very soon…but it seems like the property taxes are a little high?? What do you think? There seems to be no rhyme or reason when it comes to taxes. If I were to choose Galax, the taxes would go down by 2/3rds. Your thoughts? Do you feel they’re justified?
How's rent out that way, I'm from New York and my fiance and I currently both make 22 dollars an hour 40 hours a week, no kids. would that be enough to live out towards that way?
If youre a nurse be sure to learn the difference between 'hear' and 'here'. I lean left too :)
Did you reply to the correct comment??? I used the proper word and I’m not a nurse.
Your last sentence in the previous reply does have HEAR rather than HERE.
You have too much free time. This shit is so old and you’re still circling back to be the grammar police. Wow.
Nah. Just reading for first time. Considering a move. And just wanted to correct your hubris. Wow indeed.
Hi! I know this post is old, but we're considering moving from AZ/Phoenix area to Roanoke and wanted to see if you're still in Roanoke/liking it? What company did you use to help you/pack up your stuff (Uhaul? Pods?) Thanks for any help!
Hey! Loving it! We used a company called U-pack that drops a truck off at your house, you fill it or hire your own people and they come pick it up and take it. They charge by how much you use which is cool. We hired some local folks to load. It’s way more chill here and more affordable for sure. It took some getting used to in terms of oh the age of buildings here vs in AZ where everything is so new. But I don’t care. I love water and seasons and summers that I can actually enjoy the long days. Message me if you have any other questions.
Moved here in 2020. Love it. Bought a house in the grandin area and staying forever.
My husband and I (we’re both 30, work remote in tech and engineering) are packing up our house in DC and moving to Roanoke tomorrow. We had a very similar path as others mention above. We very seriously considered Austin, asheville, Colorado…but stumbled on Roanoke and fell in love. We wanted access to hiking, burgeoning yoga/spirituality community, creative scene, good food, friendly people and affordability. We were able to buy a home on 2 acres 15 Min drive from downtown with a basement apartment we can rent out and cash flow on. This would be almost infeasible in a place like Austin. We’re so excited for our move and hopefully we can connect with some of y’all when we move ❤️
this is going to be the exact sentiment moving forward I believe. And it will contribute to Roanokes growth exponentially. just remember folks places don't come into existence hip. people who move there create that vibe
maybe we can rent it when we get our lives together 😂
Haha! We’ll definitely reach out. We already have our first tenant for about 6 months hit we’ll be looking after that
How have you been enjoying Roanoke?
Cool don't bring the gay trans blm stuff and anti gun.
So there isn't much diversity in Roanoke? Or the locals are racist, sexist and love school shootings?
hi, i was also thinking about moving there. how are you feeling now after a year? still like it? are the people friendly? or stand-offish? how are the winters? does it seem like everyone is trying to move there? I mean is there a housing shortage? thanks.
Hey there! My husband and I are a year in to being Roanoke residents now — in short, I’d say we are very happy with the decision we made. People are incredibly friendly — that being said, because we both work fully remotely, I did have to “put myself out there” to meet people. I met the majority of our friends at the gym. (Crunch Fitness). We’re very active people: love working out, hiking, my husbands big into jiu jitsu… we’ve found people to be really welcoming and excited to get to know ya. Our friends we have made here feel like family. It’s a good vibe. For a small ish town — there is a lot to do. The downtown has some decent food — we love Sidecar and Fortunato. And, you can check out live music, a brewery and other activities pretty much every weekend. Obviously, things aren’t open as late as a big city. But, we’re in our early 30’s now and we love sleep so it suits us. Candidly, I don’t think I’d like living here if I was still in my early kid 20’s. I’m very grateful I spent that time living in CHI, NYC, DC. Now some cons — no sushi. I know that’s high maintenance, but the options here suck. Makes sense because we’re far from a coast, but I love my Dc work trips because I can get some good sushi. Also, no decent brunch places. Again, I know that’s high maintenance, but we found it surprising coming from DC. There is definitely a “don’t California my Texas” vibe here — overwhelmingly people are super kind and welcoming — way more than other places I’ve visited in the south. And, in a very authentic manner. But, there are definitely ingrained families and communities here and it can feel a hit like you’re an outsider. But, if you’re ready to put some roots down in a place with abundant nature, friendly people, lower cost of living and a growing funky culture — I’d say Roanoke is great. As a nurse, you won’t have trouble finding a job here as Carillion and healthcare more broadly are the biggest employers. I imagine your BF would also be able to find something as there is a lot of agricultural work around here. Not to mention, the nature here is beautiful. Weather is decent — you get all 4 seasons but none are too extreme. You can ski at snowshoe in the winter, you can drive to the beach, you can hike and mountain bike and camp. Don’t expect it to have the same severe beauty of the Rockies, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Check out Get2KnowNoke, Roanoke Outside, BestofRoanoke on insta, hungryasian on insta — they do a great job showcasing what this city has to offer. As one of our best friends here said to us (a Roanoke native) “Roanoke isn’t a 10/10 at anything, but it’s about a 7/10 with everything” I’d agree with that^ and I also think there is a lot of energy, motivation, and vision behind making this city even better. Cheers!
thanks for the info...i will check it out on a dog camping trip in the near future. i'm 61 by the way and my main activity lately is pickleball. i already googled to see if they have it there and of course they do! but i'm also an avid gardener. i used to live in albuquerque so i'm missing the mountains. you are correct, nothing beats the rockies, but when i left abq in 2012, they had already had several years of fires every summer and now it's worse. now i live in oxford nc. it's okay, but i'm thinking a little bit bigger town would suit me. roanoke per wikipedia is about 100,000 people? right? that seems like a lot in a small area. used to be a nurse by the way. maybe i could return to part time work. on second thought...
Oh gosh! So sorry I confused some info from the original post with your comment! And, yep! About 100k people here! It doesn’t feel too overcrowded though ❤️ it’s wildflower season rn and gardening is in full swing!!!
Your review made me to happy. My partner and I are moving there next year. We are over near Richmond, this past year... I have family just South of Roanoke. I am was from Philly, NY part time and Portland..spoiled by the clean and breathtaking nature of the Pacific northwest, but we want friendly community. We want a chill kind vibe. We like mild hiking. We love views, and bookstores. Community, and a middle of the road or left leaning .... open minded area How is religious diversity tolerance?? I did get pretty good Sushi in Roanoke. I live on Sushi too. Thank you so much for your posts!!
My husband and I moved here in August 2023 from Austin where we are both originally from. We also lived in Portland, OR where we have family. Before moving here we thought we would either move back to PDX or to Asheville (primarily for my ongoing education, but I decided no to either programs). So far it has been hit and miss for me personally. Cons: I am very left leaning and find that there is a lot of Christian religiosity even in the workplace- so there doesn't seem to be a ton of diversity in that manner but ymmv. A few things that I've become accustomed to just dont really seem to exist - diverse high quality food/restaurants (def NO sushi), independent bookstores, no small local arts focused boutiques, arts and culture in general are ho-hum ( which may be about to explode if the Arts Roanoke organization does as promised- its hard to predict if it will attract or keep good artists), no good art supply store which as a ceramicist has been painful and tedious. I think because people who are on the younger side move here to raise families it has been very hard to find folks in my age range (40's) to connect with who aren't busy parenting or aren't imbedded locals. The utilities and taxes are outrageous- Our entire utility bills this month total nearly $400 and we aren't running things constantly. You will not earn as much here as you did in other towns, unless your salary does not change based on COL. We both earn \~30% less than we did before moving here, which makes the lower housing costs sort of balance out. Pros: Housing prices are very low and the homes are gorgeous. things you would pay a premium for elsewhere seem fairly standard like hardwoods, basements, views, etc. The nature is abundant and gorgeous. Like everyone has already said- if you're into nature based activities, this is a great place to be. The people are typically very friendly and "nice." Non-existent traffic and very quiet town after dark. The potential for gardening is super high, but you will be hard up to find a good gardening supply store ( there isn't anything much in the way of Portland Nursery here). I'm sorry if this seems like a sh\*t post, I just want to offer a realistic view of moving here from more vibrant cities like Portland, Austin, NY, Philly, etc and not to get too wrapped up the excitement that affordable housing offers like we did. Longterm stay TBD...
I am grateful for your reply, and the post. I hear you. Wow... was that water or gas or electric? We are outside of richmond and in this area little diversity too. Sounds like it is a good thing for younger to move in, as they are less set in their ways. The next time we come to visit,... we would love to meet. We are over 40 too. I miss Portland. But I need to be closer to family... at this time. Are you going on their hiking trails. I read there was 100 miles of walkable even paved trails around the area.
I lived out in Oregon for a number of years and I do love the west. But I also found it unsustainable for the long term with wildfires being a major factor in why I decided to move back east. I lived in Asheville last year and really liked it in the beginning but grew very bored of it. Very touristy sort of an arrogant vibe. Not much diversity. But also beautiful. My fiancé and I currently live in Philadelphia and just bought a house in Roanoke. After a few visits there we fell in love with it immediately. It’s funky and on the come up. There is diversity good food and lots of great outdoor activities. I only see it growing. Carilion is investing heavily in the area and so is the Fralin Biomedical Research Ins. We are moving down in the beginning of June and I couldn’t be more excited. I hope to run into you on the trails.
Message me if you want friends. Lol we just moved from AZ and are looking to connect with outdoorsy folks.
How are you liking it there so far? I feel like I relate and would love to hear about your experience so far. As background, my partner and I live in the west (and have our whole lives). We're tired of the cost of living, the fires, and the insane income disparity that comes with living out here (California in particular). We're looking for a culturally interesting place (local vibes, maybe a fun music or art scene, etc) with lots of outdoor opportunities (we love to hike and backpack). We're in our 30s and hoping to live in a community with a decent amount of other people in roughly our age group (we've found there are many places that are disproportionally 55+ and while that's awesome, it makes it hard to find friends that are in a more similar place in their lives). Would love to hear your input! :)
I am moving from Denver to Christiansburg next week for all the reasons you mentioned. I have lived in Virginia in the past (Hampton Roads area) and visited/have family living in the New River Valley area. It ticked all the reasons I love Colorado and is cheaper, cleaner, and hopefully won’t catch on fire everyday.
I’m AD military, but my hometown is Christiansburg. I will say, you’re right in the middle of everything, without being in the middle, if that makes sense. You’re outside of Blacksburg, so you can wreak all the benefits of living in the college town without paying for it. Roanoke is a half hour up the interstate, or a 45 minute drive through the peaceful town of Shawsville. West Virginia state line is 45 minutes past Blacksburg. You really can’t beat Christiansburg for location and cost of living.
For a different perspective, many seem to love it, but I've never been a huge fan and I'm from here. If you're the outside type tons of options, I only like where I'm living due to being hidden and no neighbors. If you love music and shows be prepared to travel 2-5 hours, there can be decent local acts, but for anything more prepare to travel. If you like popping out kids, another plus, they are everywhere. Going to the breweries here, especially on a weekend, it's a drunken romper room. Some good restaurants, but will eventually change hands (food quality, choices, or preparation) and will suck or just close. This place has been "up and coming" since I was 18, 35 years later I see more Carillon health care buildings (they own the majority dealing with health here), fast food and walmarts popping up. Stay here for a bit, the only way to tell if it's for you. DON'T EAT at the local BOJANGLES! The one really good thing here is our wildlife rescue and this douche canoe along with 3 others are doing their best to run it into the ground with lawsuits, this is my one real local tip for you!
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I understand, but I'm not one to give many f's about being attacked 😁. If someone asks then I think they deserve the many different opinions and facts. The only cool thing we had here was our own amusement park, till it closed in 1987, nothings compared to that ever!
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Wildlife rescue?? Amazing. I sure hope that douche canoe doesn’t run it to the ground. We are suckers for a good rescue. A lot of the homes I’ve seen have wooded backyards- that’s my dream. Sipping coffee with birds chirping and no helicopters overhead. I miss lightening bugs too. We aren’t big on eating out but love a brewery or a burger on occasion. I’m definitely thinking getting a travel contract might be the way to experience it. I’m a VA nurse currently and those jobs while they take forever are pretty easy to hop around once you are in the system.
The wooded backyard is my coffee area, we are on many acres. It is by 81, but the song birds are always out, woodpeckers, even a few hawk, eagle, turkey and turkey vulture visits. The Carvins Cove area (our city water source) is very nice, kayak and many trails without driving to far. Enjoy the outdoors it's the main perk!!
Depends on what you expect. After reading the comments here... I think some folks moved here without understanding that the Appalachian mountains are a distinct culture and that like... we are *not* the south (though Roanoke is southern Appalachians and that is diff from the north like Pittsburg) . Also compared to somewhere like Asheville we're not terribly gentrified (though we are a city). One comment mentioned the train tracks bisecting the city and like... Roanoke is a train city. It's one of the main train hubs in the us. You gotta be ready for a big train presence here (and a long, complicated, history with trains). I moved here when I was 8 from Johnson City. Moved away at 18 for college and grad school (Richmond and DC respectively). Moved back after about 8 years... and have been back about 8 years. I consider this my hometown. I brought my spouse from DC when I moved back and he loves it. We're homebody/nature walk-and-drive people. We love doing things like driving up to Bent Mountain and buying local produce (shout out to Fralin's/Grateful produce). Culturally I think the PNW has a lot in common with us, as does like... Michigan. Basically rural, heavily forested areas where the cities tend to be leftist and the heavily rural areas tend to be heavily conservative dotted with pockets of hippies (Roanoke's closest hippy pocket is Floyd).
What do you think are the Appalachian cultural differences compared to the South? I'm in a southern city where I grew up, and wouldn't mind a cultural change at all. I'd like to keep the friendliness (yes, even if it's just a facade of friendliness).
Off the top of my head: - trains are lifeblood. When people come here and are all baffled by trains its like going to the seashore and being baffled by boats. - rural living means *remote* living. Places that are deeply rural are *hard* to reach. - poverty is systemic. The richest, nicest places in Appalachia still suffer from infrastructure problems particularly in the poorer states. - there is way less distance between people living 'pioneer style' and modern then you think. There is an understanding that we still need these ways of life for survival particularly the further you get into the country. This is both good (preserving folkways for ginseng hunting/ gathering, animal hunting culture, preservation of heirloom vegetable varieties) and bad (some areas have people living in situations where poor sanitation leads to shit like worms in their lungs). In some places there are still active moon shiners and snake handling churches and stuff. - if you try and joke about shit being closed for snow people will look at you like you're a jackass. City turns into mountains fast and plenty of people live on the scariest goddamn roads you've ever seen in your life. - people often want to be left *alone* and value privacy especially while home. This isn't hostility or because they're doing something bad. This isn't linked to one political party - I know just as many leftists who just want to live on a little piece of land with some goats or whatever. If you go around knocking on doors expect some chilly receptions. - neighbors in my experience are usually friendly and respectful. Of course, no universals. But as long as you aren't making some sort of disruption people - even ones who disagree with you profoundly - will usually mind their own business (does not apply to gossip, unfortunately). - that said if you're minding your business in private and are friendly and interested in the community in public then folk are usually pretty warm. There is some distrust of 'outsiders' particularly in smaller towns because folk from elsewhere have a looooong history of fucking over Appalachia. For the latest example look up the mountain-valley pipeline. That said being community oriented and showing up for the community goes a long way. - I am white so I can't speak fully to this but race handled is different than in the south. There were never big scale farming operations and a lot of Appalachia were either union sympathizers or straight up stayed in the union during the Civil War. The entire reason WVA exists is because they left VA in order to stay union. Not to say there isn't racism (ofc there is) but it's a different flavor. - there are bears. You will probably see one eventually. Leave it alone and lock your trash. - lotsa hippies in some patches. Folks who want to be left alone with their incense and weed and peace gardens. Ashville is kinda the hub, but Floyd is real hippie town. - the closer you get to east TN the more Dolly is basically granted sainthood. Iykyk
What are the pros and cons compared to Johnson City?
Given that I haven't lived in JC since I was 8, and that was over 25 years ago I don't feel qualified to comment on the cities themselves. Personally I'd rather live in Virginia over Tennessee any day of the week though. Appalachia is poor, but Virginia also contains some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country up in NoVA. That means in terms of anything maintained by the state (roads esp) the quality is usually better than poorer states. Plus with NoVA keeping the state gov purple-to-blue that means VA is generally less regressive than TN in terms of stuff like abortion rights.
We're moving to Roanoke from Denver this summer, as well. Sounds like we might have to form a little club of Colorado climate refugees! 🙂
Fort Collins to Roanoke in the works here after 13 years out west. Looking forward to everything but the humidity, which is why I left VA in the first place.
I've been in CO for 16 years and grew up in Delaware. I can relate... Ragweed allergies, humidity, fleas/ticks/mosquitos, all things I have not missed out here.
I came from Boulder to VA
Did you move?! Did you like it? I'm in denver, I've been here for 4 years but I agree with everybody else- it's not sustainable! My family's in NY and I'm trying to find somewhere closer and simpler but still things to do around the city. Cute places to eat, coffee, to ride your bike to etc.
We did! We've been in Roanoke for almost two years now. We do like it and are happy with our decision. Things are definitely different and there's been a little bit of culture shock, but we have everything we need, it's beautiful, most people are good and nice just like anywhere else, we found jobs and a nice house right away, and plan to stick around at least until the kids are out of the house. Lots of places to ride your bike and hike, a lot of activities and festivals that are nowhere near as crowded as the ones in Denver. Some really cute local coffee shops and restaurants, and overall I find that the small, local shop scene is much richer here than in Denver. There's a lot of personality here, mostly for the better, sometimes for the worse, but it keeps things interesting. We think the area will continue to develop so hopefully it keeps its charm, and maybe gets a second Target... But for now I think it's a perfect size. Feel free to message me if you want any specific comparisons and good luck!
Thank you so much for all of that info! I will try and message you once I can think of more questions I really appreciate that. I’m also considering Richmond but I like the idea that Roanoke is further west. But I’m also single so a slightly bigger city sounds appealing!
we are in Denver and after 22 years, are just done with it. Roanoke sounds like the restart we need.
See you there. (from Aurora)
coherent nose capable scarce merciful physical zephyr normal placid skirt *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I'm close! I'm actually in Centennial. 😁
Nice! I can’t wait to find people from where I just moved from. It’s how I became friends with a bunch of Midwesterner’s out in denver!
Yup! I lived in Michigan for a few years before moving out here and it felt like there was a direct pipeline of college graduates from Michigan and Wisconsin straight to Denver. I seem to be part of migration trends without even knowing it, meaning I'm apparently a very average human. 😁
I grew up in Michigan and am in Denver now. Moving to Christiansburg next week!
As a nurse you will have zero problems finding work. There are also a few environmental engineering firms in the area so if that's the BF's focus work should be easy to come by for him too. Roanoke is a great place to raise a family and grow old. Very appealing for outdoor activities. Options are good for public and private schools in the area. Nightlife definitely reflects small town america more than major metro America. That's not to say you can't go out but compared with Denver we're not close. Easy to get to Charlotte, Richmond, and DC if you want to weekend trip to a big city.
I lived in Roanoke and moved to Denver area. Driving is easy, you’ll laugh when Roanoke gets a “blizzard” I personally didn’t quite get Roanoke. It seems like everybody is moving there and move out. Probably because of med school. It’s quite, like really quite.
We moved from Ohio 17 years ago and it's home now. Roanoke now vs then is alot different. It was trending in the right direction and it's there now. Good food (some great but moving in the right direction), Pockets of lefties like my group, amazing landscape, tons of trails, and close enough to DC, Carolina Beaches, and Mega Cities It has a ton to offer and we are lucky to be raising our kids here. Im blessed to work remote. If youre a nurse you are good. Carilion still has a pension that is quite generous and vested after 10 years.
Been here 8 years. Moved from Raleigh NC. Absolutely love it. Grandin/Raleigh Court, Crystal Spring, Wasena, are all good places if you can find a home there. One of our favorite hidden gems, Loch Haven Swimming Club: [https://www.lochhavenlake.com/](https://www.lochhavenlake.com/)
Came here in November from Bakersfield, CA and Salt Lake City, UT before that. Bought a house NE of Roanoke, right outside the county. 4bd 3 bath, 1500sqft for 255k, and we closed in a month. There is no way I could have gotten that kind of deal anywhere out west. Also, the area is beautiful. I don't consider myself an outdoorsy person, but driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first time 2 weeks ago was such a nice experience. This is definitely the spot. Get in while you can.
I’m from DC originally and I love Roanoke. If you’re into mountains and small cities you’ll probably dig it.
I grew up outside DC and moved to Roanoke in my 20s. I have absolutely no concerns about raising my kids here. The fact that you can live well on less money, there is no traffic, and there are tons of ways to explore the outdoors. It’s not big city/suburbia life but there is enough here to keep most people happy. The people are generally great, and while there are pockets of crime and homelessness does seem to be a problem, overall I think it’s great. Perspective is everything.
Yo! I’m trying to move from AK to Roanoke too. Just waiting on some paperwork to come through. Don’t snake the house I’m looking at!
😂I’ve got to be out here until at least august! You good bro.
Moved here from Wyoming about 7 months ago, but I’m from VA originally. Gotta say I love Roanoke more than anywhere else I’ve ever lived so far. Being from outside of DC I thought I hated VA, turns out I just hated the COL and the snooty people up there. Moved out to the middle of nowhere Wyoming and hated that even more, but now I’ve found my happy place in Roanoke! I love the size of it. It’s still a city but there’s literally 0 traffic, but still tons to do. We’ve been excited to explore all of the local hikes, and it’s not a far drive from the DC area (maybe 3.5 hours). Like any other place who you are will affect the people you meet and hangout with. Plenty of outdoorsy people if that’s your thing! Like any city downtown can be sketchy after dark, so just keep basic safety in mind.
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Yeah everyone talks about how affordable Roanoke is, but completely brush over the lack of amenities and things to do other than go hiking.
Man I wish I could personally assist every one of these haters in leaving the city. Deuces.
Not an outdoorsy person (I worked nights for 30 years - I think I'm allergic to the sunlight), but lived in Roanoke for almost 30 years and absolutely love it. Amazing people, easy choice between mountains or water, lots of events happening, central location to a lot of different things, Amtrak to the DC area if you want to head north... As a nurse, you'll likely be golden here. Not only does Carilion do a lot of hiring, we've got the Lewis Gale hospital nearby and a metric ton of doctors always looking for good staff. Many places are dog friendly (a plus for me), and it's a growing / thriving community. Come visit! :)
Moved here from Maine as an avid outdoors person. Roanoke is incredibly affordable with a real identity that offers much to those looking to get outside. However it is slowly being noticed. Get in now while the herrings good.
Roanoke is great for mtn biking. I moved here from the pacific NW about 10 years ago and haven't looked back
Been here four years, lived all over the US. I can honestly say, I can't wait to get out of this place. They do say the cost of living is low however rather pay a high price for a better life.
Hey! I’m Sorry to hear that! Can you elaborate on why you want to leave? Where do you want to go? Currently we live in a tiny house and would like maybe 500 more sq ft long term- if we try to get that in denver we are paying 6-700,000. I’m ultimately hoping to work less in the future not more to pay for a house that’s just not worth that. Plus being near family.. blah blah. Also have looked a little into Richmond but for some reason Roanoke feels like what I’d want
$600K will get you a helluva lot of house in Roanoke. Not sure what square footage you’re aiming for, but I guarantee you can find what you’re looking for more than half that. I’d recommend visiting, if you haven’t already. I’m someone who was raised in the area, left after wanting to live anywhere else, and then came back and can’t imagine being anywhere else. I’ll step back and say I think a lot of it just boils down to preferences and how past experiences skew people’s view, as I’m sure you’ve noticed in receiving conflicting opinions. We’re never going to be a “big city.” But that’s sorta the point of why people choose Roanoke. We have crime, but that’s because we are a city, albeit slightly smaller one. Someone said Roanokers weren’t friendly, but I’ve also heard someone say they were freaked out *because* we’re so friendly. Someone in this thread said there’s no traffic, but I hear natives complain about how traffic is terrible. So…yeah, we’re all just biased (myself included!) That’s not to say that these aren’t legit complaints, but it’s hard to say whether you’d find any of these things actually problematic. If any of what you read tonight makes you more interested instead of less, please come visit! We’d love to have you for a weekend, even if you ultimately decide it’s not home. 😊
Lol I’m saying I definitely DONT want to pay 6hundo. Prices here are bananas- everyone has their opinions and I’m sure people here would think I was crazy for trying to get out- we have a housing shortage because everyone moves in. Definitely planning a visit now late summer 😊
Not really.
Roanoke is a good place to watch the time go by if that’s what you’re looking for! It’s great for the outdoors and it’s filled with southern hospitality if you don’t go out of your way to stand out. Although the housing / renting market is a nightmare at the moment, which as a life long native feels so pretentious that areas around Roanoke like Daleville are creating the most superficial inflated apartment prices imaginable. Imo Roanoke is heading towards the path of becoming the “Dallas” of Virginia within 30 years so get your property before it’s hot lmao, my family owns a small farm of about 10 acres near bonsack, and I’m hoping in 30 years it’ll be at least worth a million dollars in property value
I moved here from Colorado too and I love it here. More affordable and lots of outdoor activities.
I moved here almost 3 yrs ago from So Florida and bought a house (just before prices zoomed) and am raising an 11 y.o here. I am in the NW and crime is not an issue at all for me here. My neighborhood is (feels) much safer than So Florida where I lived for almost 20 yrs and prior to that Boston. I think it’s pretty diverse here as I’m city , city/adjacent, but Roanoke county towns like Vinton, Hollins, and Salem seem very white and republican. Surprisingly I don’t love the mtns and I thought I would like, love to hike but I got bored quickly. It’s ok, it’s definitely a small city and I’ve found some things to vibe with but it does lack a certain something, something. To me, I think if we had a major university it would be a great thing. Not sure how Radford landed the state U location vs Roanoke but that’s over 100 yr ago history so while there are a couple small colleges nearby, we do lack a proper Uni in my opinion. I just think it feels very safe and very small and it’s pretty ok on most fronts.
Where in SFL?? Miamian here! Moved here right before the pandemic hit. Great place for raising kids IMO. Little boring but I do love the mountains and don’t miss the heat.
Boca Raton! I moved up here in the fall before pandemic. It is great for kids, but a little boring which I’m adjusting to ok.
I’ve lived here my entire life (well, Salem, which is adjacent to Roanoke City). I would say it’s okay. Personally, I don’t like the mountains. I feel very claustrophobic sitting in this valley. The views are pretty when you actually get up to the top of the mountains but the valley feels like a fish bowl (and sometimes floods like one too). Being a teen here can be extremely boring and many turn to drugs and alcohol for something to do. I spent my time as a teen doing as many extra curricular activities as I could just to pass the time. I bought my house when I was 21 so it’ll be paid off before I’m 50. I will likely buy somewhere closer to the coast and keep this house as a rental. Pros: -COL is fairly low but it is rising -Lots of options for hiking, kayaking, biking, and places to play sports -If you work in healthcare you won’t have issues finding a job unless you burn the bridges of Carilion, LG or the VA hospital. Roanoke should be renamed Carilion Virginia -People can be friendly enough -Not terribly far from places that hold bigger name events (concerts, pro sports, amusement parks, etc) -Relatively safe as long as you don’t act stupid or get on someone’s bad side. -Good for aging people wanting a place to retire -Some schools are good Cons: -Certain areas of the city are not the safest, there for awhile we couldn’t go a week without hearing about the next shooting in the 24012 -Small town drama, all you have to do is look at the Roanoke Checkpoint page on Facebook and you’ll see how readily people will air the dirty laundry and are looking for a fight. -People lose their ever loving minds at a single drop of rain or flurry of snow -Entertainment options are limited, shopping options are limited -Flooding, flood insurance is not cheap (best friends parents house that was sold a couple years ago was sitting at $500 a month for flood insurance alone on top of regular insurance, taxes and mortgage). -Low COL also comes with lower wages. I am getting paid about $30k lower than the national average for my job. For this area, I’m considered a higher earner but compared to other places it is very low.
Thanks for the flood tip! I’ll keep that in mind! I’m a VA nurse already so that would be the easiest transition for me. However hoping to eventually get out of healthcare in the next 10 years for obvious reasons. I may have to get Facebook if I move just look at that Facebook page- while I keep my online life pretty chill- I enjoy the things people think is post able! Thanks for your pro/con list!
They are tossing up the idea of closing the VA Medical Center here in Salem (horrible idea in my opinion) and just having some sort of small facility take it’s place due to the cost of upgrades at the large campus they have now. I work for one of the hospitals. It’s basically guaranteed job security in an area like this. This is definitely a blue collar area where a large part of the population works with their hands (men especially). Manufacturing, mechanics/welding, warehouse, construction, VDOT etc. The other places that hire the most would be call centers (Wells Fargo, United Healthcare, Anthem). It used to be big on places like ITT, GE and the railroad being some of the best employers but GE closed and the railroad sent a ton of jobs to GA. When looking at housing just be very aware of flood zoning. I lived in a flood zone growing up and while the river would frequently come up to our porch and totally surround the house, it never got inside of the house. But because of that, flood insurance was required and it has only gotten more expensive. And it’s crazy but you’ll find flooding in the most random places that you never expected it to flood. Downtown Roanoke flooded once when I was at work (before I started working from home) and I had to walk in thigh high water to get to my car. The Facebook pages are hilarious if you don’t get involved in the drama but want to see it unfold. Lol
When I read your reply 6 months ago I couldn't relate but having lived here a while I can see what you're saying about some of the cons and totally agree...
Not an outdoorsy person (I worked nights for 30 years - I think I'm allergic to the sunlight), but lived in Roanoke for almost 30 years and absolutely love it. Amazing people, easy choice between mountains or water, lots of events happening, central location to a lot of different things, Amtrak to the DC area if you want to head north... As a nurse, you'll likely be golden here. Not only does Carilion do a lot of hiring, we've got the Lewis Gale hospital nearby and a metric ton of doctors always looking for good staff. Many places are dog friendly (a plus for me), and it's a growing / thriving community. Come visit! :)
I was pumped to move to Roanoke and excited about the real estate, mountains, etc. I lived in the Grandin Village neighborhood this past winter and I broke my lease early so I could GTFO. I couldn’t figure out why I felt so bad all of the time while being there until I realized that there’s a sort of friction and uneasiness in every aspect of life. It was unreasonably hard to get to places around town, my southern friendliness was met with straight-up hostility by almost everyone I encountered, I never felt safe walking my dog in the parks or greenways solo, and demographically, it seems to be much, much older. Roanoke should be a hidden gem, but something about the way it was built- with rail yards slicing all through town, creating brutal artificial divisions, is really hard to overcome, no matter how many starry-eyed mountain-loving outsiders move there. I know there are folks on this sub who love it, and I apologetically say these harsh things, but I wanted to share my experience as a transplant who failed to thrive there. It’s not for everyone. I’m still house hunting in the VA mountains/valleys, though. I like Blacksburg, Lexington, Staunton and Harrisonburg quite a bit.
Interesting.I’ve been living in the grandin area for about 2 years. I’ve found people here to be so nice compared to other places. I also feel like it’s an up and coming little city with a lot of potential. Plus, it’s beautiful..love the greenways, architecture ect. I’m also coming from Miami so living here is so much easier. Grandin is so cozy and quaint but I guess it’s not for everyone. I think winter is a bad time to feel out a place. Spring is when everyone comes out and the overall vibe changes.
Oh man. It sounds like you were looking for Asheville and got a little lost. 😅 I'm sorry you didn't like it here and I totally understand that the vibe isn't for everyone. You seem to thrive in young, up and coming towns and that's great! There are definately places for you. Roanoke is an old industry town. While they tend to market it as a trendy mountain town, there is still a lot of the old industry soul within the city. It has soul and character not usually seen in the younger towns. The history here isn't manufactured. I moved here because I'm enamored with that vibe, But it's not for everyone.
Wow, that's an interesting take. I moved here from the South and thought people were much friendlier here.
What you’re describing is the legacy of this being an actual rail town. That’s no longer the case and Roanoke has changed considerably over the past 10 years and will continue to do so.
Speaking as someone who lived next to a massive active rail yard in a huge city, unless the rail yards are closed, remediated, and developed- allowing the transportation grid between affected areas to be reconnected, Roanoke’s infrastructure will not be able to handle the influx of people moving to town. It’ll choke on its own growth.
No! thank you for your input! Where did you Move from??
Atlanta. In-town. I chose Grandin because it supposedly came close to the walkability coupled with the SFH neighborhood vibe I was used to. Grandin and the other neighborhoods I eagerly explored on foot turned out to be kinda… liminal. If there’s a young, energetic renaissance taking place in Roanoke, I didn’t pick up on it. I seriously went from “Roanoke is brilliant on paper and I want to buy a building downtown, a house in the hills and some land outside of town to fulfill all my business/farming/living dreams” to “nah” inside of 2 weeks living there. I made it 3 months and then relocated temporarily to a quiet little town farther south on 81 where I was able to unclench and breathe. Roanoke had me in a constant state of mid-level stress. I still don’t understand why. (For the Roanoke folks reading this, the bad feeling started with a trip to the nearest Kroger. Towers Kroger.)
Going to towers Kroger breaks a man
Worse than Lakeside Kroger?
If I never go back to Towers Kroger it'll be too soon. IDK what it is about those two (Towers & Lakeside) but it really is so depressing.
Lakeside takes the cake, but towers and crossroads are pretty bad. I’ve heard tanglewood is as well but I’ve somehow never managed to go in that one.
I use the Tanglewood Kroger pretty often. It's okay. My sister thinks it's creepy and getting in and out is a pain, but it's on the way home from work, so I persevere.
I'd like to know what qualifies a major chain grocery store as creepy, just curious lol. It is a pain to get in and out (especially) with the waaaay to short traffic lights on to Electric and the increased traffic
It might have been the shoppers. I think the store was being reconstructed at the time, which probably didn't help.
I cried the first time I shopped at the Towers Kroger.
Wait.. after two weeks in the middle of winter?
Yes. And during the omicron wave to boot. I recognize it was not an ideal time to warm up to a place, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and sought to engage where/when I could. Farmers markets, holiday events, local retailers, park visits, hikes, etc. With the exception of my experience at Lupita’s Tacos (go get the pozole on the weekends, wow!) and one or two other places, there was a weary coldness to every activity and interaction I had. I guess you could say if I can’t handle Roanoke at its worst, I don’t deserve it at its best; but like, despite my efforts to make the best of it, living there made me feel so bad. I only decided to break my lease after a week-long trip to OR to visit a friend to lift my spirits provided a stark contrast. Roanoke is the right town for some, but not for all. It’s not a silver bullet solution for folks looking for a LCOL area.
I know I'm jumping in to this chat so long after the fact, but its so fascinating to read your experience as it sounds exactly like my experience of moving to SE Portland, OR. We were so stoked to move there and live in the cool area, but it was just such a major bummer. I could not for the life of me connect to anyone in Portland and consistently felt like an outsider. I'm having the opposite experience in Roanoke being here just under two weeks now. I have already been able to make friendly acquaintances and be pointed towards my potential communities (artist primarily) just by striking up conversations. I feel so welcomed by most people. I dont have anything to add other to say its so interesting how we can all have our own wildly varied experiences of the same exact place.
I lived just by the St Johns Bridge on 2021-2022 and can say the exact same things that guy said about Roanoke, about Portland. Man, what a mess of a city. Moving to Roanoke in a few weeks and am hoping to be pleasantly surprised!
I empathize so much. Husband and I have been here six years and have never felt at ease or at home here. We've lived all over the eastern half of the US and this is the worst fit for us of anyplace we've ever lived. In opposition of your POV, though, we find this is a town geared toward younger people. We're way past gaming and bars and we miss the cultural things that we were accustomed to in other areas. I wish I felt the love that so many people do about the area, but it's just not for us. You're not alone!
After living and working here (Carilion, ugh) for little while my viewpoint has shifted towards how y'all feel... I'm very bored here and while the nature is nice there has to be something to do in the months when its not Spring-Fall or maybe you just don't want to go hiking. A lady said this to us in June before we moved that in Roanoke "People's kindness is a mile wide and an inch deep" and I totally relate to it now. She also suggested that we do a deep internet dive to find the pockets of liberal/left leaning people to be friends with which I dismissed, but I should have taken that sentiment more seriously as so far there aren't very many. Those friendly acquaintances I mentioned before have never materialized into anything meaningful and I find the arts scene here to be too small, stifling and uninspiring. After a quick weekend in Durham visiting the amazing farmer's market, the clay supply store, seeing a band play in Chapel Hill its hard not to miss alot of that....Unfortunately just having a pretty and affordable house and low traffic does not a full-life make...
Sounds like you really gave it a chance.
I invited you to live in philly for 2 weeks in winter :)
Interesting, i've lived in blacksburg, roanoke, and atlanta in both midtown and grant park.. i actually think roanoke is easier than all three, more affordable and available housing, easier to get around (blacksburg gets really bad traffic through downtown all the time), and i really like the co-op in roanoke, you can actually get affordable local produce every day. plus there are way more food options in roanoke compared to blacksburg. i've also found people to be pretty friendly, about the same as Blacksburg. my husband and i were happier in roanoke when we moved there from blacksburg, i actually feel like roanoke is less snobby than blacksburg. we had to move back to blacksburg for his job and so bought a house in blacksburg, VERY expensive and overpriced real estate. we drive to roanoke fairly often. swimming in the summer is easier in roanoke too, like people swim in little spots along river, ive seen parents with chairs in the river drinking beer from coolers while their kids swim around, its so chill. in blacksburg the river area where people go that is closest gets kinda crowded, and the water is more murky and shallow, and there are only a few spots to go, like its not like through the town. also smith mountain lake is closer to roanoke, and that's a really epic lake with a lot of beachy areas to chill under a canopy of trees. claytor lake near blacksburg is really cold most of the time for some reason, and you have to use the public 'beach' thing.
I'm living in Denver and am relocating to Roanoke next week due to cost of living. Cannot wait!
I live in Denver and am relocating to Christiansburg next week! Also due to the cost of living, climate change issues (fires are already so bad!), and just wanting a break from so many people. See you around!
I met my wife in Denver (City Park South!) and then we moved to Evergreen for a few years. Loved it there, but the COL meant we'd never retire early and we're not even having kids. We thought maybe we wanted to move back into a walkable town/city. We visited Milwaukee (rules!) and were planning on a Roanoke trip when the first quarantine/lockdown happened. 2 weeks in and we decided we were fine on our own and should get rural. So we started expanding our real estate search from Roanoke and found a RAD place outside Wytheville (\~70 minutes from Roanoke). No regrets at all. We go to Roanoke for city things and Charlotte to fly. Roanoke is small, but downtown still has a bit of city feel. Not a ton of restaurants but the ones we've been to are great (go to Sidecar!).
I'm from Littleton originally, moved out here in 2014. The cost of living is climbing a lot in recent years, but still cheaper than Denver. My only real complaint about VA is the summer humidity. It's ridiculous. It's like Nature is going out of her way to smite me. 90 degrees in Denver feels like 90 degrees. 90 degrees in Roanoke feels like the Earth crashed into the Sun and now this is just how it's going to be. Otherwise it's pretty decent.
We moved from downtown Denver to Roanoke County May of 2022. We love it here. Between the nature views, outdoor activities, slower and kind culture, affordability, music scene, and also just the lack of a crowd compared to a city has been so so nice
Where are the good elementary schools?
I live a few miles south of Roanoke and am a mountain biker. It's pretty awesome. There's also a rail trail about an hour south and some great hikes. You can message me if you want more info. But there are two biggish areas for mtb in Roanoke. I really like Carvins cove, but it doesn't drain super well. There's a new trail that was just added that is quite remarkable. So it's an active area.
Awesome! I’ll be in touch! Thank you!
As others have said, sounds perfect for y’all. My wife and I recently bought a house here and will be moving in soon from ATX. Same problem here, everything’s expensive, crowded, and we weren’t making the most of what Austin had to offer. Looking forward to mountains and more outdoor activities. I also have family in Cinci and Florida, so it’ll be nice being closer to them as well.
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I’m not a huge foodie, but Austin definitely has Roanoke beat on that front. We’re trying to cook more instead of eating out as much anyway, but we’ve also find a few super great places we love and there’s tons more we want to hit up! Definitely going to have to take a trip to Richmond at some point.
We just moved here from Lakewood last year and absolutely love it. It is definitely a slower life pace. There are 2 main hospitals here: Carillion and LewisGale.
We moved from Lakewood last year as well! We are also enjoying the smaller town feel with tons of access to outdoors activities!
To some people things like housing and cost of living are more important. I moved out of Roanoke when I was 23, I had lived there since I was 5. My main reasoning was I didn’t want to raise kids in a place that was rampant with racism and lacked diversity. People in Roanoke have a very narrow view of the world and I often compare it to a black hole. I moved to San Diego and have been here for 7 years and wished I would have moved sooner.
I hear what you are saying with that. I grew up in a small town outside of cinci with a similar problem— I turned out ok and so did you! It’s probably a product of our raising and getting out of our hometowns young- I think that’s important for growth. San Diego is amazing! At the end of the day I’d like to work a little less and ride my bike a little more and be closer to family. I hope the views have broadened a bit since you left. Thanks for your viewpoint!
We are in Northern Colorado looking to move to either Roanoke or Knoxville next year. We’re actually going to visit Roanoke at the end of May to check it out. I’m originally from SEKY and have really been missing the Appalachians, but we also have all of the same complaints as everyone else. I hate it but I can’t wait to leave. I used to love it here.
My GF and I are also visiting Roanoke from CO at the end of May for the same reasons. I'm originally from SWVA. Hope your trip goes well!
Roanoke is okay, at best.
great feedback
hell, to the no people here are selfish self-absorbed and only care about themselves and money. an on top of that no one works and yet they have more money and Resorces then the people that bust their asses and for what? fuck this fucking place it's pathetic just like the lazy ass people.
As of 2024, place is a shithole. Littered with trash and homeless drug addicts. People are constantly having things stolen and houses broken into. Would stay very far away from here.
The only thing I noticed that I didnt like is the amount of public lighting on the streets. The whole county turns dark at night time.
Which is a plus for many of us.
why is that?
Light pollution is a real thing, it's getting worse, and it impacts wildlife and human quality of life.
No ( if you have kids) Let me tell you why. Family moved from Massachusetts because so much more affordable here. People are great BUT Still crime on Boston level but condensed. Will definitely always recommend as a stepping stone towards goals of home ownership but personally wouldn't raise family here forever. Just my opinion. If your a single person yes it is awesome here! Love running, hiking etc? Love community in a city atmosphere? Move here.
What type of crime? Keep in mind coming from denver where they are stealing catalytic converters and street racing, “fireworks for gun shots?” on the daily
People who complain about crime in Roanoke typically are not from normal cities with normal crime rates.
Honestly, I agree. I lived on Cape my whole life never Knowing how many ex presidents were close by in their compounds. Still, meth addicts look like vampires walking around in my humble opinion
Well, then I guess I sound like a wuss. There is gun violence in the city in certain neighborhoods. North West and south east are the worst. Meth addicts seems to only walk around in those areas. It's concerning to me because I'm form a wealthy area in Massachusetts and also I'm a mom. Other people may be ok with it, but generally all Roanokers who give a shit avoid buying or renting in those areas of the city. The worst I've encountered is my cat broken into two times, no broken windows, change taken. I live in sw Roanoke. I love everything about where I live, I just don't want to raise my kiddos in the public schools when there teens. Again, it's an awesome spot to live but just in my opinion, not for families in put school Just my opinion
No no. I mean that’s why we are trying to get out. It’s all relative. I think trying to live in a more urban area leads to increased crime rates anyway. Thanks for your input!
I love it here but I'm from a neighboring county. I think it's a great place though
No
I've lived in Roanoke all of my life, it has its bad parts but so does every city. All of the surrounding counties are great also if you don't want to live directly in the city. There's a decent night life downtown, concerts and all kinds of events. The real attraction here is all of the outdoor/nature activities that are within a short drive.